Claims yatra to honour Birsa Munda not show of strength
Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar at the Bhagwan Birsa Munda programme at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Ramesh Tawadkar, on Tuesday asserted that Ministers and MLAs are bound to give high respect to the post of Speaker, not just because it is a Constitutional post, but because he has never given any occasion for anyone to feel hurt by his actiwons while discharging his Constitutional duties.
Tawadkar further said the ongoing yatra to commemorate Bhagwan Birsa Munda’s 150th death anniversary should not be seen as a show of strength by him to counter the Ponda melava organised by the United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA) headed by the Prakash Velip-Minister Govind Gawde duo.
Speaking to the media at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, at the Bhagwan Birsa Munda programme, Tawadkar said there were three incidents that came to light wherein attempts were made to target him and belittle the office of the Speaker. “These people had humiliated me when I was out of power between 2017-22. Today, I am not ready to get humiliated at the hands of these people,” he said.
He added: “I have taken enough care during my stint as Speaker to protect the respect the post deserves in the discharge of my duties. In such a situation, I also feel that Ministers and MLAs should equally give respect to the post. Since I felt that certain people are out to belittle me, I have brought this to the notice of the government and the party leadership.”
Saying that the Bhagwan Birsa Munda programme was planned around 2-3 months ago, Tawadkar said the Munda yatra is in no way a show of strength to counter UTAA’s melava at Ponda. “Last year too, I had taken out a rally in Canacona and Quepem talukas. When people know that I am sincerely working for a cause, they rally behind me. I am happy that the rally received a good response from Salcete on Monday,” he added.
